Wooden floors top floor flat

[processedbeats]

DH would love to have wooden floors in our top floor flat (we currently have carpets everywhere apart from kitchen and bathroom). I like the idea too as they're easy to clean, can be covered with rugs where necessary etc. my issue is - is it possible to soundproof them/how expensive would that be? We have a baby/soon to be toddler who will be jumping about and I don't want angry neighbours complaining about the noise...
Thanks in advance

[HaroldLloyd]

I had a clause in my lease that the floors had to be carpeted. Worth checking.

I've had loads if issues with the downstairs neighbour complaining about walking etc, so I personally wouldn't do it.

[shaska]

What sort of building is it? We're in a block, concrete floors with wood on top and had no complaints - neighbours above have wood too and we don't hear them. But I think it's very different depending what's between you and the neighbours.

I know you can get various soundproofing things - rubber that sits on the joists and acoustic padding etc, which I expect you could install yourself but it'd involve lifting all the floorboards which would be a right pain. So probably not super cheap to have someone else do, either!

Then again if you had lots of rugs with good foamrubber underlays that might help too.

[pyrrah]

Are you leasehold or freehold?

We live in a leasehold flat and the previous owners put in wooden floors - however we're on the ground floor. Still had a nightmare getting retrospective permission - which wasn't granted and we had to agree that if there were complaints about noise then we would recarpet.

One of the other tenants put in wooden flooring and it has caused a nightmare with neighbours - they have a small child and the noise in the flat below is incredible (I was surprised how bad when I was round there).

If you are leasehold, and the terms state no wooden floors, then I wouldn't do it as you are 99% certain to get complaints even with lots of soundproofing and you risk being made to replace with carpets.

If you are freehold, then just be prepared for lots of complaints.

[processedbeats]

We are freehold.
The floors are of suspended timber joist construction with tongue and groove stripped floorboardings.

I think we are probably just gonna stick with carpets.??